Football is about more than just wins and losses; it's a classroom for life. That's the core belief Jazmin Gamble is bringing to her new role as varsity head coach at Hawthorne High School. While her appointment as a woman leading a high school football program is a historic moment, Gamble is focused on a more immediate goal: rebuilding a Cougars team that has struggled in recent years.
"It’s less about proving a point and more about giving all these boys a better experience," Gamble said. She aims to leverage the attention her hiring brings to spotlight her players and open doors for them, crediting the district for believing in her vision.
Her vision is backed by serious credentials. At 35, Gamble isn't just a coach; she's a current professional athlete. As a running back and linebacker for the Los Angeles Legends in the Women’s National Football Conference, she's a reigning star. She was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 and followed it up as Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, rushing for a league-leading 549 yards.
This on-field prowess gives her instant credibility. Her players even got to see her in action recently when the Legends played a home game at Long Beach Poly. "We won 23-0 and I scored a touchdown but it got called back due to holding," she noted with a competitor's grin. This unique perspective—being a high-level player while coaching—allows her to teach the game with a fresh, relatable authority.
Her expertise extends beyond the gridiron. A certified personal trainer, Gamble has spent the last decade running The Jazz Standard, her own athlete development business. This experience in developing athletes at all levels is precisely what the Hawthorne program needs. She sees the head coaching job as a natural transition as she plans to retire from playing after this WNFC season.
For the Cougars, Jazmin Gamble represents a breath of fresh air—a leader who combines professional playing experience, a proven track record in player development, and a passionate focus on building a positive culture. The rebuild at Hawthorne High isn't just about X's and O's; it's about instilling the lifelong lessons the sport teaches, and they now have a coach who embodies them all.